Complete Coverage of the 3-Time NBA Champions

Heat Has Garnett & Nets Against the Ropes

Receive the latest sports updates in your inbox

MIAMI, FL - MAY 06: Deron Williams #8, Kevin Garnett #2 and Paul Pierce #34 of the Brooklyn Nets look on during Game One of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2014 NBA Playoffs against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on May 6, 2014 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Kevin Garnett days as the “Big Ticket” appears to be over. For the first time in his career, Garnett went scoreless in a playoff game. He then followed that up with another poor performance in Game 2 and without his high-level of play; the Nets are now down 2-0.

Garnett came to Brooklyn with Paul Pierce. However, while Pierce is still playing at a relatively high level; Garnett has been abysmal. Garnett has battled back spasm and other nagging problems, but he has played much slower recently including on the defensive end, where he once dominated.

In the first two games of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Garnett has scored 4 points on 2-10 shooting, including shooting just 1-7 in the painted area. Garnett is leading the team in rebounds at eight per game in the series.

The Heat has dominated both end of the floor during the series. Miami is shooting 53.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from behind the three-point line. The Heat averaged 100.5 points per game through the first two games, outscoring Brooklyn by an average of 8.5 points per game.

Miami has also managed to keep the Nets from outrebounding them. The Heat averaged 36.5 rebounds per game to 37.5 rebound per game for the Nets through the first two games.

The bottom line for Garnett and the entire Brooklyn team is this: if they don’t seriously turn things around in Game 3; the Heat will be preparing for the Eastern Conference Finals after a second-straight four-game sweep in the 2014 playoffs.